The Clay Place is owned and operated by Jim Rice, Naples artist for over 25 years.

Mr.
Rice has created environmental ceramic pieces, including fireplaces,
wall murals, pool tiles, fountains, animals and planters. His
repertoire of functional works includes place settings of dishes,
serving bowls, and decorative pieces highlighted by his lively
fish platters which are oven, dishwasher and microwave safe.
His custom work and commissions are installed in private homes
and public buildings throughout the country.

James
Rice has converted his craft into a fine art and his works reflect
confidence, vigor and the joy of living.

Over the years The Clay Place has been the focus of many articles
in Florida. We would like to highlight some of the coverage for
you, to give you a better understanding of The Clay Place, and
owner/artist Jim Rice. Listed below are a few of the headlines
that have been used to describe Jim and The Clay Place.

"All
Fired Up Over Pottery""Plattery
will get you everywhere""Feats
of Clay" "Potter
finds something fishy in his job""Passionate
About Pottery""Art
lovers call Naples Paradise""Rice
and Fish -- Not a Japanese Dish"
Please click on the headline below
to link to the full article on The Clay Place.

Jim Rice describes himself as a functional potter whose goal is to produce functional artwork. Pots and plates, cups and saucers, bowls and goblets comprise Jim's
functional artwork. Three dimensional reliefs and sea creatures
stretch the artist's imagination. Each of Jim's creations is handmade,
signed and dated.

Ask
him how long it takes to transform that clay into a coffee cup,
and Rice quickly responds,
"20 years".

"It's
all a part of an evolution. I might sit down and make a cup in two
minutes, but it took me 20 years to get to the point where I could
do it in two minutes."

The fish platters come in a variety of sizes, besides every color
envisioned, and their uses are only limited by the imagination.
The smallest, for instance, measuring in at 5 x 2-1/2 inches, can
hold sauces, jewelry, soap, ashes, paper clips, and coins to name
a few. Functional and artistic these aquatic dishes are quite the
catch in some 200 stores across the country.